Mental health services in Australia

Mental health services in Australia (MHSA) provides a picture of the national response of the health and welfare service system to the mental health care needs of Australians. MHSA is updated progressively throughout each year as data becomes available.

Mental health services in Australia has been published as a web report since 2011. A companion hardcopy publication Mental health services - In briefis produced annually. This report provides an overview of key statistics and related information found in the web pages.

Data source

Functional assessment and eligibility screening

PHaMs assists people aged 16 and over whose ability to manage their daily activities and to live independently in the community is severely impacted as a result of a severe mental illness.

The PHaMs Remote Service Delivery model (additional funding to develop community capacity and initiate alternate supports in Indigenous communities) does not have an age restriction.

While a person does not need to have a formalised clinical diagnosis of a severe mental illness to access PHaMs, participation in the program requires a functional assessment to determine the severity or impact of mental illness on an individual’s level of functioning.

PHaMs service providers undertake functional assessments using a purpose built Eligibility Screening Tool (EST) that looks at 9 potential areas of functional limitation. An EST assessment is completed for each participant and details are entered into the Portal.

Geographical coverage

Site selection is undertaken in consultation to ensure services are established in areas of high need, and complement other community services such as those funded by state and territory governments.